Constitutions

News about Constitutions, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Dec. 25, 2014

Prime Min Shinzo Abe of Japan begins new term in office; vows to revise the nation's Constitution, which renounces war, despite opposition from voters and to set up deregulation policies as part of his plan to revive and grow country's economy. MORE

Jul. 23, 2014

Thailand adopts temporary constitution, taking first step toward the return of electoral democracy after two months of military rule. MORE

Jul. 3, 2014

Editorial contends it is disturbing that Japan's Prime Min Shinzo Abe has reinterpreted his country's pacifist postwar Constitution so that military can be more assertive; asserts change has increased anxiety in region that needs to reduce tension. MORE

Jan. 27, 2014

Members of Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly vote to approve country's new Constitution, completing two-year drafting process and opening way for a new democratic era, three years after uprising that set off Arab Spring. MORE

Jan. 20, 2014

Egyptian prosecutor charges liberal intellectual Amr Hamzawy with insulting judiciary after he posts message on Twitter criticizing court ruling against pro-democracy American nonprofits; charges offer glimpse of how military-led government may apply new Constitution's free speech provisions to intensify pressure on dissenters. MORE

Jan. 19, 2014

Secretary of State John Kerry raises concerns about fairness of referendum on Egypt’s revised Constitution, which passed with 98.1 percent of vote. MORE

Jan. 19, 2014

Quick History column reviews notable news events of the week, including the funeral of former Israeli Prime Min Ariel Sharon and Egypt's referendum on a new draft constitution. MORE

Jan. 17, 2014

Egypt's official news media says the new constitution revised after military takeover is headed to ratification by more than 95 percent of votes cast, even as authorities step up crackdown on journalists and dissenters that human rights groups say belies charter's promises of free speech. MORE

Jan. 16, 2014

Editorial warns Egypt is on verge of enacting Constitution that would legitimize 2013 coup and enable authoritarian rule by giving power and immunity to military; observes that, by contrast, Tunisia is set to approve one of most liberal constitutions in Arab world; holds impending election of Gen Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi in Egypt may bring stability but it will be at expense of democracy. MORE

Jan. 12, 2014

Egypt’s top military officer General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi indicates he will seek presidency if referendum on revised Constitution passes; civilian government is heavily promoting Constitution and has shown little tolerance for opposition. MORE

Dec. 17, 2013

Campaign to win support for Egypt's draft Constitution gets off to an awkward start when observers note several errors on a large banner promoting the campaign, including a misspelling of the word 'Egyptian' in Arabic. MORE

Dec. 15, 2013

Egypt’s interim government sets Jan 14, 2014, as start of two-day referendum on a revised Constitution, which will be the first gauge of support for military’s ouster of nation's first fairly elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. MORE

Dec. 5, 2013

Editorial warns Egyptians are squandering another chance to build a broadly inclusive democratic system with their latest constitutional revisions; contends new charter defies the revolutionary promise of the Arab spring by reinforcing the power of institutions that have long held the country in an iron grip. MORE

Dec. 2, 2013

Experts warn that draft Egyptian Constitution, appearing to afford citizens important new rights, also gives privileged status to institutions that have repeatedly thwarted change during Egypt's years of revolutionary turmoil; such groups include the police, seen as main instigator of abuses. MORE

Mar. 23, 2013

Op-Ed article by lawyer Petina Gappah welcomes new Zimbabwean Constitution, which will mean more curbs on presidential power and a strengthened bill of rights; holds progressive provisions will improve byzantine citizenship rules that have long disenfranchised many of country's rightful voters. MORE

Mar. 20, 2013

Voters overwhelmingly approve Zimbabwe’s new Constitution, with more than three million people voting yes and fewer than 200,000 voting no; new charter is crucial step toward holding presidential elections to replace uneasy power-sharing government installed after violent 2008 election. MORE

Mar. 17, 2013

Zimbabweans go to polls to vote in referendum on new Constitution, crucial step toward holding presidential election. MORE

Feb. 4, 2013

Prominent Chinese intellectuals and publications are urging Communist Party to enforce principles contained within country's Constitution which was ratified in 1982, but has largely been ignored; strategy reflects emerging consensus among advocates for political reform that taking moderate stand in support of Constitution is best way to persuade Xi Jinping to open up China's party-controlled system. MORE

Dec. 27, 2012

Egyptian Pres Mohamed Morsi takes responsibility for 'mistakes' made during run-up to ratification of country's new Constitution, appealing for unity after bittern national debate and pledging to respect one-third of voters who cast their ballots against it; apparent attempt at reconciliation with opposition represents another notable step in Egypt's political transition. MORE

Dec. 27, 2012

Editorial notes that Islamist-backed constitution that has taken effect in Egypt has only exacerbated divisions and left millions of non-Islamists feeling disenfranchised, angry and determined to force changes in the document; holds that both Pres Mohamed Morsi and his opponents must seek compromise and unity if they hope to set Egypt on a constructive path. MORE

Dec. 23, 2012

Islamist-backed constitution appears to be headed for approval, propelling Egypt's deeply divided political factions into next phase in battle over country's future; all sides predict that charter will win approval as millions of Egyptians go to polls for final round of referendum. MORE

Dec. 20, 2012

Zaghloul el-Balshi, one of officials in charge of overseeing Egypt’s vote on contentious Islamist-backed draft Constitution, resigns, citing health problems; move follows boycotts of referendum by judges and others that have left voting process with severe shortage of monitors to oversee it. MORE

Dec. 17, 2012

Supporters and opponents of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi fight over preliminary results of referendum on draft constitution; Muslim Brotherhood says that roughly 57 percent of those who cast ballots voted for proposed constitution, but opposition leaders say voting was marred by irregularities; each side is seeking to frame results as favorable. MORE

Dec. 16, 2012

Egyptians vote peacefully and in large numbers in referendum on Islamist-backed draft constitution; hope is that results will end three weeks of violence, division and distrust between Islamists an their opponents over ground rules of Egypt's promised democracy. MORE

Dec. 14, 2012

Editorial questions whether referendum on Egypt's new constitution will result in consensus needed to lay foundation for enduring democratic change, given fact that process managed by Pres Mohamed Morsi has been so chaotic and divisive. MORE

Dec. 13, 2012

Egyptians living abroad begin casting ballots in bitterly divisive referendum on Islamist-backed draft constitution, start of vote that has become test of country's nascent democracy. MORE

Dec. 12, 2012

Egyptian Pres Mohamed Morsi's advisers and panel of intellectuals struggle to work out last-minute proposals that might broaden support for Islamist-backed draft constitution set to go before Egypt's voters on Dec 15. MORE

Dec. 12, 2012

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column states conflict in Egypt over referendum on new Constitution has less to do with role of religion in government than it has to do with freedom; warns Egypt will only be stable if opposition respects that Muslim Brotherhood won election fairly, and resists its excesses with better ideas that win public to opposition's side. MORE

Dec. 9, 2012

Egypt's Pres Mohamed Morsi moves to appease his opponents by offering concessions and rescinding some power; comes hours after state news media reports that Morsi is moving toward imposing form of martial law to secure streets and allow vote on Islamist-backed draft constitution; Morsi does not budge on postponing referendum, critical demand of opposition. MORE

Dec. 8, 2012

News analysis; Egyptian Pres Mohamed Morsi is leaning more closely than ever on his Islamist allies in Muslim Brotherhood, betting on their political muscle to push through decisive victory in referendum on Egypt’s divisive draft constitution. MORE

Dec. 5, 2012

Riot police officers fire rounds of tear gas at tens of thousands of demonstrators outside presidential palace in Cairo protesting Islamist-backed draft constitution; clash is clearest evidence yet that new charter has widened divisions that have plagued Egypt since ouster of Pres Hosni Mubarak. MORE

Dec. 4, 2012

Top Egyptian judicial administrator says many judges will cooperate with plans to hold public vote on draft constitution supported by Pres Mohamed Morsi, setback for opposition groups who had hoped to delegitimize charter; announcement reveals split in country's judiciary, which had for most part displayed unity in opposing Morsi's decision to put his edicts above law. MORE

Dec. 3, 2012

Egypt's constitutional court delays its much-awaited decision on legitimacy of Islamist-led legislative assembly that drafted new charter, accusing crowd of Islamists outside courthouse of intimidating them; what actually took place at courthouse is matter of dispute. MORE

Dec. 2, 2012

Egyptian Pres Mohamed Morsi sets date of Dec 15 for national referendum on country's new constitution; Morsi's tone and actions have reminded critics of autocratic ways of his predecessor Hosni Mubarak, and have aroused debate about his commitment to democracy and pluralism at time when he and his Islamist allies dominate political life. MORE

Nov. 30, 2012

Islamists drafting Egypt's new constitution, racing against escalating political crisis, approve charter that human rights groups and international experts say is full of holes and ambiguities; both document's contents and events surrounding its passage remain divisive, as delegates from secular parties and Coptic Christians walk out of session and protesters take to streets. MORE

Nov. 29, 2012

Leaders of assembly drafting new Egyptian constitution say they will complete their work quickly, move that appears aimed at trying to sidestep power struggle between Pres Mohamed Morsi and courts over control of political transition. MORE

Nov. 11, 2012

Editorial contends that Arab countries will not succeed unless women are fully incorporated into political and economic life; notes that Arab Spring has allowed Muslim girls and women to dream big dreams, and it is crucial that new constitutions that are being drafted protect and expand women's rights. MORE

Oct. 31, 2012

Editorial contends way in which Tunisia resolves tensions between its moderate Islamic government and liberal secularist opposition will determine its future as well as broader regional debate over whether Islam and democracy can co-exist; calls on ruling Islamist party Ennahda to deliver Constitution that protects rights of all Tunisians. MORE

Oct. 24, 2012

Egyptian court declines to rule on legality of committee drafting Egypt's Constitution, dealing setback to critics who have called committee unrepresentative and too heavily dominated by Islamists; decision seems to ensure that current group of authors will have time to finish their work. MORE

Aug. 2, 2012

Delegates, undeterred by a suicide bombing outside the conference they were attending, agree to a new draft constitution for Somalia that is meant to help the violence-torn East African nation return to stability. MORE

Jul. 14, 2012

Thailand's constitutional court rules that lawmakers in the governing party of Prime Min Yingluck Shinawatra cannot rewrite the Constitution, but leaves open the possibility of piecemeal revisions of sections of the charter. MORE

Jun. 6, 2012

Egypt's ruling military council gives party leaders 48 hours to agree on a 100-member assembly to write a permanent constitution, threatening to issue their own interim charter if they fail to comply; move comes only ten days before the runoff to decide Egypt's first competitive presidential election. MORE

Apr. 11, 2012

Egyptian administrative court suspends a committee appointed to draft a new constitution, all but guaranteeing that Egypt will elect a president before it ratifies a new charter; without a new constitution, the winner of the presidential election will technically assume the same powers wielded by former Pres Hosni Mubarak before his ouster. MORE

Mar. 25, 2012

Editorial asserts that Turkey's new constitution must strengthen its democracy if nation is to be a model for the region; urges Prime Min Recep Tayyip Erdogan to also push for democratic reforms in addition to those that should be included in the country's constitution. MORE

Feb. 7, 2012

Adam Liptak Sidebar column on the waning international influence of the United States Constitution; cites study to be published in the New York University Law Review, analyzing the provisions of hundreds of constitutions from around the world, showing that America's founding document appears to be losing its appeal as a model for constitutional drafters elsewhere. MORE